International Surfing Association » Liberia Newshttp://www.isasurf.org
For a Better Surfing FutureTue, 20 Feb 2018 19:21:03 +0000en-UShourly1Meet Esther Teah – 2014 ISA Scholarship Winner from Liberiahttp://www.isasurf.org/meet-esther-teah-2014-isa-scholarship-winner-liberia/
http://www.isasurf.org/meet-esther-teah-2014-isa-scholarship-winner-liberia/#commentsTue, 17 Feb 2015 20:20:31 +0000http://www.isasurf.org/?p=32700Esther Teah is a 16-year-old Liberian surfer. She is a great ambassador for women surfers in Liberia, and Africa in general. She is the current Liberian Women’s Champion and has held the title for two years. In last year’s Liberian National Surfing Championship she upped... Read More »

]]>Esther Teah is a 16-year-old Liberian surfer. She is a great ambassador for women surfers in Liberia, and Africa in general. She is the current Liberian Women’s Champion and has held the title for two years. In last year’s Liberian National Surfing Championship she upped the ante on what women in Liberia could be doing when she caught open face set waves out the back and rode them all the way to the beach; the packed beach went ballistic while the women, more importantly Esther, stole the show from the men. In her essay in the ISA Scholarship Program application, Esther wrote, “Surfing has changed my life and I hope it will bring me more opportunities in the future to travel and surf nationwide.”

Liberia’s 2014 ISA Scholarship winner, Esther Teah.

Even with this love for surfing, Esther puts her education first. Since her parents passed in 2003, her brother, a local fisherman, supports the both of them. Esther hopes to continue her education, finishing high school and going to university so she can one day help her brother and give back to the local surf club. This scholarship will help with her tuition fees, as well as, obtaining better surfing equipment she may call her own.

]]>http://www.isasurf.org/meet-esther-teah-2014-isa-scholarship-winner-liberia/feed/0Rise Above Ebola: Robertsporthttp://www.isasurf.org/rise-ebola-robertsport/
http://www.isasurf.org/rise-ebola-robertsport/#commentsWed, 17 Sep 2014 23:09:43 +0000http://www.isasurf.org/?p=27150Source : Liberia Surfing Federation Rise Above Ebola: Robertsport from daniel on Vimeo. Liberia is currently in the middle of the worst Ebola outbreak in history. For the last 2 years we have worked tirelessly to bring tourism to our community of Robertsport, Liberia by... Read More »

Liberia is currently in the middle of the worst Ebola outbreak in history. For the last 2 years we have worked tirelessly to bring tourism to our community of Robertsport, Liberia by starting a sustainable surf camp. Our goal has been to use surfing as a catalyst for tourism in Liberia given the world class waves that Robertsport has to offer.

Unfortunately we have put our business on hold and shut things down to avoid any unecessary travel in/out of Liberia and to protect the health and safety of all members of the Robertsport Community.

With Liberia having an 85% unemployment rate, we understand the immense value that a job creates not only for the employee but for family and friends that these employees help to support. On average, 1 Liberian earning an $80 monthly salary will support between 4-6 additional people through food and medical assistance.

Because of this we are asking for help to achieve a minimum of 2 goals.

Goal #1: Raise funds necessary to provide a minimum of 6 months salary for our 15 person team at Kwepunha.

(The World Health Organization estimates this epidemic to take at least 6 months to be contained.

This requires $1,200 per month x 6 months minimum totaling $7,200

Goal #2: Raise funds necessary to provide a 1 week of Ebola awareness programming in Robertsport via the Kriterion Monrovia Group. (20 University students training community leaders and going door to door to raise awareness and answer questions pertaining to ebola and everyday life.)

We would also like to raise additional funding to continue our monthly beach/community cleanups, sanitation projects and education projects which will create additional jobs for dozens of deserving community.

This requires up to $1,500 per month and would employ up to 20 additional community members and help to support over 100. Please help us achieve these goals by making a donation to support our staff and our community!

]]>http://www.isasurf.org/surfers-path-kwepunha-liberia/feed/0Breaking Taboo: The Women Surfers of Liberiahttp://www.isasurf.org/breaking-taboo-the-women-surfers-of-liberia/
http://www.isasurf.org/breaking-taboo-the-women-surfers-of-liberia/#commentsWed, 06 Nov 2013 01:00:55 +0000http://www.isasurf.org/?p=18737Source: The Inertia – Sean Brody Surfing is not new to Liberia. Expatriates and the odd traveling surfer have found their way to the warm waters of Liberia since the ’70s and many wandered to the fabled left-hand point breaks of Robertsport. However, the local... Read More »

Surfing is not new to Liberia. Expatriates and the odd traveling surfer have found their way to the warm waters of Liberia since the ’70s and many wandered to the fabled left-hand point breaks of Robertsport. However, the local surfing culture didn’t begin to take shape for several decades. In 2006 Nicholai Lidow, Dan Malloy, Chris Del Morro, Crystal Thornburg-Homcy and company came to shoot the award-winning film, Sliding Liberia, which portrays the inspiring story of Alfred Lomax, Liberia’s first surfer, who had found a bodyboard and taught himself to “slide” waves. Alfred began to surf with a surfboard that was left behind for him by the crew and subsequently a few of his friends followed suit. The number of Liberian surfers hovered at about three for many years.

Ester, stoked on her final wave, claims it for Liberia’s women surfers. Photo: Brody

The presence of a few non-profit organizations, including Robertsport Community Works and Surf Resource Network, helped to foster a love for the sport of surfing as a positive outlet amongst the youth in Robertsport and, in 2009, the inaugural Liberian National Surfing Championships was held.

Since the inception of this event, it was protocol to always include a Women’s Division. Although the women of Liberia did not yet surf, it was important to let them know they could participate in this amazing sport and pastime. At the time, a woman named Elie Calhoun was around to provide some early guidance and inspiration. A few local women would reluctantly enter the competition (because they couldn’t swim) after being assured of their safety by having several of the young men in the water and being coaxed with guaranteed prizes. The women would take turns getting pushed into knee-high whitewater in the shallows and the one who came closest to standing was pronounced the winner. Even though they took part in the event, the women would never try to go surfing with the boys or inquire about surf lessons on their own. For the next three years, the Women’s Division at the Liberian National Surfing Championships more or less resembled the first year’s event.

This year was different.

October 19 and 20, 2013, marked the 5th Annual Liberian National Surfing Championships and there was a lot of local hype prior to the event. A majority of that hype surrounded the Liberian women.

Photo: Fonzie

Call it an epiphany. Call it a shift in paradigm. Call it what you will, but any way you slice it, there is an amazing transformation taking place in the coastal fishing community of Robertsport. This change became very apparent in September 2013 when three women from California–Jessica Preese, Casey Garfi and Jennifer Cassel, visited Robertsport with the goal of helping to develop the women’s surfing scene by not only coaching the girls in the water with surf lessons but additionally being mentors and role models on dry land. These women formed instant bonds beyond comparison with any attempts made by male surf instructors the local women have interacted with in the past. All the women got to know each other quite well and began surfing together all the time. The topic of surfing was used as a stepping-stone to discuss life experiences and universal challenges that women face. After the women from California went home, there was also a woman surfer from Switzerland, Tabea Burkhalter, who came to Robertsport for the month of October to surf. The women surfers of Liberia learned a lot by interacting with these international women who surf on a daily basis. Most importantly, the Liberian women learned that not only can women surf, but women can also be surfers.

Kwepunha Surf Retreat has a board share system to enable the Liberian Surfing Federation and other youth that are interested in surfing borrow surfboards if they are attending school, maintaining their grades, participating in beach clean-ups, and taking part in the surf club’s activities. In years prior, the local women would never come to borrow surfboards or try to improve their surfing, but since Jessica, Casey, Jennifer and Tabea came, they have begun to show up at Kwepunha regularly to borrow surfboards and to practice for the competition. For the first time ever, we began to see Liberian women paddling out by themselves and surfing with the men. As the competition drew near, the number of Liberian surfer girls doubled and each day saw a mixed gender line-up filled with enthusiasm, encouragement and raw excitement.

The 5th Annual Liberian National Surfing Championships brought more than 1,300 spectators to the beaches of Robertsport to witness the Liberian surfers strive for a place on the podium and bragging rights as Liberia’s top surfers. The event was held in fun two-to-four-foot surf and the local surfers came to win, drawing clean lines all the way to the beach. The Junior Division saw the most style with new West African moves being invented such as the “Liberian Layback.” The Men’s Division saw the fiercest competition with the most passion from the competitors. However, it was the Women’s Division that brought the huge crowd into an uproar!

Ester Teah was the obvious stand out, taking off at the top of the peak, pumping down the line and throwing massive claims- raising the roof, number one, and the classic “I can’t hear you” claim. Typically, I am not a fan of claims, but this was both awesome and historic. The crowd stormed the water as Ester rode her last wave to shore; kids, grandmothers, and everyone in between met her on the sand to offer their congratulations and praise for what she has done for the women of Liberia.

The Superintendent of Grand Cape Mount County (where Robertsport is located), the Honorable Imam Mohammed Paasewe, put it best by stating the following of Kwepunha Retreat, Surf Resource Network, the International Surfing Association, and the Liberian Surfing Federation’s efforts to empower local women:

“What you are doing is breaking local taboo. Never before have the women of Liberia dared to venture to the sea; that has been a place for the men. To see the Liberian women surfing is groundbreaking. What is transpiring is highly impressive and is paving a path towards equality. We hope to see more Liberian women take part in this great sport of Surfing.”

]]>http://www.isasurf.org/breaking-taboo-the-women-surfers-of-liberia/feed/0Surfers Journal E-Book: After the Discovery – The Evolution of West African Surf Culturehttp://www.isasurf.org/surfers-journal-e-book-after-the-discovery-the-evolution-of-west-african-surf-culture/
http://www.isasurf.org/surfers-journal-e-book-after-the-discovery-the-evolution-of-west-african-surf-culture/#commentsThu, 31 Oct 2013 17:01:45 +0000http://www.isasurf.org/?p=18539Source: The Surfer’s Journal The Surfer’s Journal has launched their new E-Book called “After the Discovery – The Evolution of West African Surf Culture,” where they examine the impact of surfing on the coastal communities of West Africa. After more than a decade of violent... Read More »

The Surfer’s Journal has launched their new E-Book called “After the Discovery – The Evolution of West African Surf Culture,” where they examine the impact of surfing on the coastal communities of West Africa. After more than a decade of violent civil war in Liberia, an ISA Member Nation, the young people of the nation’s surf capital, Robertsport, gather at the beach and document a more hopeful way of life.

As part of the ISA’s mission to develop surfing globally, the ISA is looking to grow membership in the region. Currently the ISA has 77 Member Nations across 5 continents with the goal of reaching 100 members by the end of 2014. Two key areas with great opportunity for growth are Africa and Asia.

With the help of Sean Brody, the ISA Africa Development Advisor, the ISA is looking to bring on many new members in the region.

“Liberia is also serving as positive model for other developing African countries,” said Brody in the introduction of the Surfer’s Journal e-book. “Currently the International Surfing Association (ISA) has recognized nine African nations including Liberia, Cape Verde Islands, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Morocco, Senegal, Somalia, and South Africa. Sierra Leon, Sao Tome, and Principe are also on deck. Surfing in Africa is not only becoming an economical driver, supporting many families, but it is also used as a tool for peacekeeping. The youth are glomming on to this positive pastime as an avenue to a brighter future.”

]]>http://www.isasurf.org/surfers-journal-e-book-after-the-discovery-the-evolution-of-west-african-surf-culture/feed/0LIBERIA: 10 YEARS OF PEACE, 5 YEARS OF SURFINGhttp://www.isasurf.org/liberia-10-years-of-peace-5-years-of-surfing/
http://www.isasurf.org/liberia-10-years-of-peace-5-years-of-surfing/#commentsSat, 19 Oct 2013 15:23:29 +0000http://www.isasurf.org/?p=18171Liberia is celebrating 10 years of Peace and Reconciliation and 5 years of Surfing! The local Surfers of Liberia will take to the left point breaks of Robertsport this weekend in the 5th Annual Liberian National Surfing Championships, presented by Kwepunha Retreat, Surf Resource Network,... Read More »

]]>Liberia is celebrating 10 years of Peace and Reconciliation and 5 years of Surfing!

The local Surfers of Liberia will take to the left point breaks of Robertsport this weekend in the 5th Annual Liberian National Surfing Championships, presented by Kwepunha Retreat, Surf Resource Network, and The Liberian Surfing Federation and Sponsored by Novafone, Monurent, Barefoot Liberia, and Monrovia Visitors Map.

More than 40 Liberian surfers including men, women, and children will compete in the event. These young surfers are using surfing as a tool to empower their lives by becoming ambassadors for their communities, stewards for the environment, and role models for their peers.